“Gaye brings considerable professional and personal skills to the council,” White said. “She loves our city and wants it to grow the right way.”

Sprague — who is currently vice mayor pro tem on the council — is principal of Sprague and Sprague Consulting Engineers with her husband Joel and used her civil engineering experience to advocate for infrastructure improvements across the city. In 2015, Sprague helped spearhead a study of 20 high-traffic intersections across the city.

Now, the city and S.C. Department of Transportation are working on some of the solutions suggested in the report, specifically along the retail corridor of Woodruff Road where the state is undertaking the 85/385 improvement project.

“It takes a while to get things done, but I do think we have a great staff that will continue to think about efficiency and city management that continues to look at community safety,” Sprague said.

She said Greenville had a “deep talent pool” and she was “confident” a new council member would bring a new set of perspectives to the council. But, in terms of pressing for infrastructure enhancements, Sprague said the citizens of Greenville will keep pushing for those improvements.

“It will be up to us as citizens to keep voicing our thoughts and support for programs like the traffic study,” Sprague said. “Certainly, the public has a huge focus on Woodruff Road and the DOT projects that are happening. Of course, that helps keep our elected officials focused.”

The election for her at-large seat will begin with a primary in June followed by the general election in November. Terms for District 2 councilwoman Lillian Brock Fleming and District 4 councilman David Sudduth also expire in 2017. Neither have announced their intentions on seeking re-election.